A fast-casual and sit-down Korean-style BBQ restaurant opens Tuesday in South End

Bulgogi Box, a fast-casual and sit-down Korean style BBQ restaurant, is opening Sept. 26 in South End.

The term “bulgogi” refers to marinated beef in a sweet, savory BBQ sauce or pork in a spicy red sauce. The meat is then piled high over sticky rice. We’re sold.

The Bulgogi Box concept started as a dream for owner and operator Jin Mengert. Her aunt, Myunghye Hwang, helped her make this dream a reality.

Hwang was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and has more than 30 years of Korean culinary experience. In 2012 she moved to the U.S. to accept a job position in Raleigh and then came to Charlotte to assist Mengert with the opening of Bulgogi Box.

Mengert came to the U.S. in 1992 as an exchange student at UC Berkeley. Inspired by American culture, she applied for a second BA degree in accounting at UNC Charlotte while finishing her BA degree in business administration from Hong-Ik University in Seoul, South Korea. She became a CPA and worked in public accounting before she moved to the industry as a tax manager for a Fortune 500 company in Charlotte.

Growing up in a family who believes “food is love”, she resigned from her position in April 2015 to pursue her passion of opening her first Korean restaurant in the Queen City. Mengert collaborated with Chef Pat Webber of Mise en Place over the past two years to perfect the concept and the recipes of Bulgogi Box.

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Located beside Blue Hem and near Blaze Pizza, the restaurant will have a hybrid-service style. If you’re coming for lunch, the service will be more casual where you’ll order your meal at the counter. This type of service is for the person with a busy work schedule.

At night, Bulgogi Box will run a full-service restaurant where you can sit, relax and enjoy a drink or two. You’ll find 46 indoor seats and 46 outdoor seats on their outdoor patio. During the colder months, they’ll have outdoor heaters.

Bar manager Jake Ryan will be serving up Prosecco on tap, seven national and local craft beers, six canned or bottle offerings and a full craft cocktail menu. Some signature drinks include a grapefruit Soju and a Gouchujang Bloody Mary.

General manager Justin Hayes said appetizers will range from $6-$12 and entrees will be around $12-$14. Entrees will include items like a “Bibim,” which is a Bulgogi core topped with vegetables and toppings. All dinner entrees are served with either veggies, soup, rice and condiments traditionally associated with a Korean BBQ.

Although dessert in Korea is typically fresh fruit, Hayes said there will be gelato and sorbet from The Local Scoop in Ballantyne and a lemon raspberry and chocolate hazelnut cake to choose from.

Bulgogi Box is located at 1750 Camden Drive and will be open Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with brunch being served on the weekends.

Online ordering will be available. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with Bulgogi Box.

Photos: Sallie Funderburk and Alisa Phifer

This story was originally published September 21, 2017 at 11:00 PM with the headline "A fast-casual and sit-down Korean-style BBQ restaurant opens Tuesday in South End."